BNSS Section 451 — Making over or withdrawal of cases by Executive Magistrates

Summary

A District Magistrate or Sub-divisional Magistrate can transfer any case that was started in their own court to a lower-ranking magistrate under their authority for handling. They can also take back a case they had previously given to a lower magistrate, either to decide it themselves or to send it to another magistrate for decision.

Official Text

Any District Magistrate or Sub-divisional Magistrate may—

(a) make over, for disposal, any proceeding which has been started before him, to any Magistrate subordinate to him;

(b) withdraw any case from, or recall any case which he has made over to, any Magistrate subordinate to him, and dispose of such proceeding himself or refer it for disposal to any other Magistrate.

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.5 p.730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.6 p.545 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.7 p.979 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.1 p.1469 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• .. Petitioner/Accused No.12 vs The State of Tamilnadu, — Madras High Court ()
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.2 p.1588 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• CrPC §411 — Making over or withdrawal of cases by Executive Magistrates